Journey and Milestones
Background Information
Experience
Dominic Latham
Senior Software Engineer
Dominic is an experienced software developer inspired by meditation and the Buddhist view.
Dom's professional software development career began in 1996. His expertise lies primarily in full-stack web application development, but also has experience in interaction design, data design, and product management.
Dom holds a Master's degree in digital humanities, but the success of his first startup significantly impacted his career path, leading him into the commercial sector for 2 decades. Joining 84000 in 2017 offered him the opportunity to return to the field, merging his passion for Buddha Dharma with the experience gained in professional software teams.
Upon starting at 84000, Dom was offered office space at his local Dharma center in Berlin. This spacious, unfinished room upstairs in the temple provided serene views of the garden and Stupa. Each workday began by entering this calming space adorned with images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Here, Dom developed the 84000 Reading Room and back-office systems used to manage, monitor, and publish the project's work.
Working in the same environment where he often meditated and received teachings inspired Dom to explore how his work could embody that spirit. This introspection extended beyond collaboration with colleagues to a deeper consideration of technology within the vast Buddhist view. Dom contemplated: What do data structures, code, networks, and users look like through the lens of Buddhist teachings on emptiness, delusion, impermanence, and compassion? How could the seemingly concrete process of building software applications be transformed into a spiritual and contemplative practice?
Having in the meantime moved away from Berlin, and left his office in the Dharma center, Dom remains grateful for this precious opportunity.